Extract Over 1,000 LinkedIn Leads Daily—For Free Using n8n 🚀

Table of Contents

🌐 Why Automate LinkedIn Lead Generation?

Problem: Many lead generation tools cost hefty monthly subscriptions, adding up quickly for small businesses or entrepreneurs.
Solution: Utilizing open APIs (like Google’s Custom Search) and platforms like n8n, you can scrape and organize LinkedIn profiles without breaking the bank. Plus, personalize your outreach at scale for maximum results.

🎯 Imagine creating personalized icebreakers for over 1,000 targeted leads each day—all automatically!

🛠️ Step 1: The Workflow Overview

How It Works:

This automation leverages Google APIs for LinkedIn profile searches and Perplexity’s Sonar Pro for advanced research. Using n8n, we’ll:

Run automated searches on LinkedIn profiles
Extract relevant data (names, job titles, profile URLs, and more)
Create detailed, personalized first-line outreach messages
Store everything neatly in a Google Sheet

Real-Life Use Case:

Suppose you run a marketing agency targeting accounting firm CEOs. Using this tool, your workflow will generate LinkedIn profiles of accounting CEOs, gather personalized details (company-specific insights), and craft engaging opening messages like:

“Hey [Name], how did your experience at [specific event] influence your approach to leadership in finance?” 🎯

🧰 Step 2: Tools & Accounts You Need

Here’s the initial setup required for this system:

1. Set Up Google API Credentials ⚙️

Google’s Custom Search API lets you pull data from LinkedIn.

Navigate to Google Cloud Console and create a project.
Enable Google Custom Search API and generate an API key. Store this key on n8n for later use.

2. Sign Up for Perplexity AI

For deeper research and personal insights, Perplexity’s Sonar Pro API is excellent. It pulls real-time data from articles, LinkedIn posts, and other web content. Get started here with minimal upfront cost (e.g., $5).

3. Use n8n for Workflow Design

n8n is a free, flexible automation tool. Sign up at n8n.io and enable HTTP request nodes, code nodes, and API authentication for integration.

🔢 Step 3: Breaking The Automation Into Steps

Ensure your process runs smoothly with these sequential logic steps:

🟢 1. Searching LinkedIn Profiles

Use Google Custom Search API for profile discovery. In n8n:

Create HTTP requests to search terms like:
CEOs of Accounting Firms site:linkedin.com
Structure your search results for clean data extraction: Name, Job Title, Profile URL, About Section.

Practical Tip:

Focus your search on specific industries or job titles to maximize the relevance of your results. For example, replace “accounting” with “e-commerce” or “SaaS founders.”

💡 2. Organizing Data in Google Sheets

After scraping profiles, push them into a structured Google Sheet with these fields:

Name
Job Title
LinkedIn URL
Personalized Outreach Line

Use the Append Rows node in n8n to ensure every new result is added seamlessly.

Why Google Sheets? They’re simple, shareable, and compatible with CRM integrations.

🧐 3. Deep Personalization Using Perplexity

This step involves Perplexity’s Sonar Pro API to gather in-depth insights. The goal is to create personalized icebreaker messages using publicly available details:

Articles mentioning the lead
LinkedIn posts they’ve written
Professional achievements

🌟 Example Insight → Personalized Message:
For a lead who wrote a recent article on tax policy:
“Hey [Name], your piece on modern tax reform was insightful—how do you see [specific change] impacting accounting firms in 2024?”

Pro Tip:

Keep your icebreakers concise, friendly, and non-generic. Focus on achievements, ideas, or recent activities.

🔄 4. Pagination for Large Data Fetches

Since Google Custom Search API limits you to 100 results per query, use pagination. The automation loops through multiple search pages (up to 10 pages of results per query). Key actions:

Adjust the startIndex for each search request.
Stop after exhausting all available pages (checks if further data exists).

📬 5. Final Output: Outreach-Ready Data

With personalized lines added, your Google Sheet becomes a master list for outreach. Here’s what your final data will look like:

Practical Tip:

Export the sheet to your favorite outreach platform—like Apollo.io, HubSpot, or Lemlist—for structured campaigns.

💡 Pro Tips & Key Takeaways

Leverage Creativity, Even With Automation:
Personalization is your superpower. Inputting richer prompts into Perplexity can yield next-level results. Example: Ask for data on common challenges from leads’ industries.
📢 “How does [industry trend] affect your firm’s client onboarding process?”
Set Daily Search Limits:
Stick to 1,000 leads/day, the free cap for Google APIs. To scale further, consider additional plans.
Refine Outputs Constantly:
Test variations of your outreach scripts to see which ones derive the best engagement rates.
Expand Functionality Over Time:
Add features like email scraping or integrations with CRM/email marketing tools. (Future functionality was hinted in the video!)

🔧 Toolbox: Recommended Resources

Here are the tools discussed in the video with direct links to maximize your setup:

Google Cloud Console
Create an API Project for Google Custom Search.
Perplexity Sonar Pro
Upgrade your research workflow with this affordable API tool.
n8n Automation Platform
Build and customize your workflow without needing to code.
Open Router API
Broad access to AI tools like Perplexity, GPT, and more.
Google Sheets
Use Google Sheets to store and organize lead data easily.
Programmable Search Engine
Enable targeted web searches inside Google APIs.
SalesDone.ai
AI sales consultation and support for maximizing lead results.
Perspective Funnel Community
Access free templates and more for scaling automated systems.

🚀 Final Takeaway: Use Automation, Save Dollars, Book More Meetings

Setting up this free system allows you to focus on converting leads into clients, rather than slogging through manual searches. While tools like n8n may seem technical, once configured, they save hours daily, enabling you to scale fast without overspending.

Here’s the challenge: Implement just one lead generation workflow this week. Monitor your results, refine, and watch your business grow. 🌟